Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hello,

What is the normal gas mileage in the city and on the highway for the V8's? I am a Canadian and I would imagine that the responses will be in US gallons which are four fifths of the Imperial measure that was used here in Canada.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Richard

Here is a thread from earlier this year with some info. There was another similar last year as I remember. Might do a search.


https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=59101#forumpost59101

Hi Richard. This topic was explored a while back with many V8 owners contributing info on their gas mileages with the 55/56 cars. I suppose you could find the old data with the search function, but maybe someone will come along and provide a link to it.

Maybe I found it myself, try this:

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=5578&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=0

Thank you Owen and Howard for your responses.

Richard

56 Exec w 352 and 4bbl/T'ultra.
13.53 mpg over a 115 mile round trip. Very cold weather this morning for warm up.

THat versus 12.2 mpg that i have recorded for last january.

I was wondering if it possible that the new fuels don't give the mileage we use to get in the 50s and 60s. I know the octane level is lower now. I remember 100 octane and if you went to some stations you could brew up to 110' I remember my first Packard that I bought while in the Army at Fort Bliss in the early 60s would get over 300 miles on a tank and still would not be entirely empty.

True that the super-premium gasolines are gone, much to the dismay of my 56 Caribbean. But I think the regular grades are of at least the same octane as the 50s and probably higher. But I believe it' the incorporation of ethanol that is primarily responsible for lesser mileage, I've seen the number of about a 7% penalty published several times. If you go back to the year before and first year of ethanol and then look at the EPA mileage ratings for cars with the same powerplant, I think that may confirm it.

O_D mentions
I've seen the number of about a 7% penalty published several times

Sounds like a perfect catch 22 to me. Use ethanol to stretch the gas supply and "clean the air" but lower the mileage so a car will need more gas and thus emit more pollutants while doing it.
Bureaucracy strikes again--or would that more fit the typical right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

"Sounds like a perfect catch 22 to me. Use ethanol to stretch the gas supply and "clean the air" but lower the mileage so a car will need more gas and thus emit more pollutants while doing it."

That describes about every attempt ever made since the early 70's to "clean the air".

Quote:

Naw, it ain't that complicated: The corporate corn growers have a powerful lobby.

(o{I}o)